the pink polo

two kids from the suburbs moved to brooklyn and made this site. we discuss the intersection of hip hop, language and culture.

[justinpascone-blog]

Arsenio brings out Rick Ross and "some very special friends" to shut it down with 'Sanctified.' Fuck Jimmy Fallon and the rest of them. This is the best show on late night. God. 

[justinpascone-blog]

Kelela -- The High (Prod. by Gifted & Blessed)

As we all know, we have a very sexy holiday coming up this week: THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF COLLEGE DROPOUT.  But also, I guess, is Valentine's Day.  We've been discussing our picks for best "sexy time" mixes, and this new one from Kelela is definitely on there.  The sparse beat and sultry voice do all sorts of good things for us.  If you don't know her yet, get to know her real quick.  Her Cut 4 Me mixtape was one of the best of 2013, and is definitely on sexy time repeat.  Download the tape here, and keep an eye out for more 2014 releases.

[justinpascone-blog]

'25 Bucks' -- Danny Brown feat. Megan James on Jimmy Kimmel

Considering how big he is in the current hip hop scene, it's hard to believe that this is Danny Brown's TV debut.  But he and Megan from Purity Ring kill it.  And if the performance doesn't win over some new fans, then his cheesy tooth-missing smile at the end will, for damn sure.

[justinpascone-blog]

Bishop Nehru - Mobb Dizzle 

New, self-directed visuals from our favorite 16 year-old New York native. Off his new Strickly Flowz progect. Download Here

[justinpascone-blog]

The Roots - Clones (1996)

Throwback Thursday. Single off Illadelph Halflife with Dice Raw and M.A.R.S. The Roots teach us the City of Hip Hop Culture has four avenues. 

[justinpascone-blog]

#1

Kanye West - Yeezus

If you're surprised at this, you don't know us (or what the name of this blog means).  It had to be. It had to be Yeezus.  His was the best record of 2013--angry and rough, but again changing music unlike any other artist. His was the best live show of 2013--an epic performance, putting all other "shows" to shame. His was the best media roll-out of 2013--releasing the first single New Slaves by projecting his face onto walls all over the country, and later releasing one of the most amazing videos of the year in which he made "every white trash t-shirt come to life." He was the best internet fodder of 2013--becoming a father for the first time, proposing to Kim, and saying more than a few ludicrous things. His was the best outfit of the year--teaching us all what leather jogging pants are, and that masks are a thing.  His was the best attitude of the year--repeatedly challenging everyone to deny his artistic genius (especially Sway, who does NOT have the answers).  Blood on the Leaves is such a perfect example of who Kanye is: an incredibly well-produced song, sampling one of the most controversial and powerful songs about civil rights and blackness in America to make a song about getting your side girl pregnant--making people want to hate a song that they just couldn't.  (Some will say they singularly hated the song for it's lack of respect, but I guarantee that when no one's around and that TNGHT beat drops, they put on the ugly face and start trashing.)  People love to hate Kanye, and he doesn't always make it hard for them.  But to deny his artistic genius is just...fucking ridiculous.

-k

[justinpascone-blog]

#2

Chance the Rapper - Acid Rap

Acid Rap dropped on April 30, and I have yet to stop listening to it.  Chance was a force to be reckoned with this year, topping most hip hop charts with this, his second mixtape.  The album is like nothing that's come before it.  With a huge variety of influences and inspirations, Chance has made something new and timeless.  There are hints of Chicago juke, gospel, rock, and of course, acid jazz.  There are a number of great features by other young artists we love, like Vic Mensa, BJ the Chicago Kid, Childish Gambino, Ab-Soul, and Action Bronson.  There is talk of love, sex, drugs, death, and family.  There is a heart-breaking audio portrait of the violence in the south side of Chicago and the havoc it's wreaking.  We've written a lot about Chance here at the PP, including a review of this album, which you can read here.  As he reportedly continues to reject huge record deals in favor of free releases and lucrative tours, Chano will continue to impact hip hop and music in general.  And we can't wait.

-k

[justinpascone-blog]

#3

Drake - Nothing Was the Same 

We have had a lot of conversations about Aubrey this year (like the rest of North America).  But regardless of his cheesier puns and lyrics, the (sweet-ass) man can make a hit.  He can make a whole album of them.  And he continues to do so.  By the time the album actually dropped, Started from the Bottom and All Me were already huge hits.  He had us all bopping to Hold On, We're Going Home and getting on our Worst Behaviour.  His music (and hilarious memes) is an unmistakable part of our culture.  Drake has definitely changed the game, and will undoubtedly continue to do so.

-k

[justinpascone-blog]

#4

Tyler, the Creator - Wolf 

It's been a big year for Tyler, the Creator.  Not only did he put out this stellar album, but he helped produce on a few of his fellow Odd Future members' albums (the standout being Earl Sweatshirt's Doris), he made a few fantastic music videos, he directed a beautiful if not out-of-character music video for an anonymous artist, and he got to perform Late with Yeezus himself at his own Camp Flog Gnaw festival.  We got to see a lot more depth to Tyler on this album with songs like Answer, about his absent father, and IFHY (featuring Pharrell).  We got to see him perform live this summer in Brooklyn, and all we could say after was that NO ONE has more fun than Tyler.  His enthusiasm for life is infectious, and we're excited to see where it takes him in 2014.

-k

[justinpascone-blog]

#5

Daft Punk - Random Access Memories 

Ok, I'll admit it: I was one of those people who really only knew Daft Punk via Kanye samples before this album.  And I'll go on to admit that I really only gave the album a try because I couldn't get Get Lucky out of my head (and I can't resist anything Pharrell touches.  Who can?).  But shit, am I glad I did.  While those couple Pharrell tracks are gold, there is so much more to love on this album.  It's still not an easy listen for me, because it doesn't create one mood--it goes through a number of different styles and themes and emotions.  Not bad for a couple robots.

-k

[justinpascone-blog]

#6

Beyoncé - Beyoncé

How did this shit happen? Oh baby. It's unfair to the other albums on the list, but I'm including all her videos. Which were AMAZING. What do I really have to say? Beyonce is still Beyonce. No hype, no promo, no interviews. She just drops the album and the internet explodes. I like everything about this album. Just watch and enjoy. Standout is Partition, for sure.

-j

[justinpascone-blog]

#7

Childish Gambino - Because the Internet 

This album made me proud to be a Childish Gambino fan. I had listened to almost all of his earlier stuff and always liked it from a distance. He is talented for sure but it always seemed like he was doing an impression of some other rapper. Whether is was Lil Wayne, Kanye or Drake -Bino always sounded like he was reaching for someone else's style. Until this record. With Because the Internet, Bino has, for the first time, really come into his own. And the screenplay he wrote along slide the album was amazing. From an artists standpoint, only a handful of other musicians are pushing the game the way he is now. Standouts are Worst Guys, Crawl and Pink Toes. 

-j

[justinpascone-blog]

#8

Vampire Weekend - Modern Vampires of the City

The suburban white kid in me loves this album. It is indie rock, this is a hip hop blog but I have to show credit where credit is due. Talent wise, these dudes are on another level. And it's just a beautiful, whimsical, kinda of dark (which was the theme for all music in 2013) album. 

-j

[justinpascone-blog]

#9

Danny Brown - Old 

[Best Album Art of the year]

What I like about Danny so much that it isn't about sounding perfect, or at times, even good. It reminds me of an early punk rock philosophy- A sort of response to the over-produced and tame mainstream rock of the 1970s, where the point was to not give a shit if your guitar was out of tune or the strings broke while you were playing. I see Danny in that same light- a sort of reactionary artist to the Radio Hip Hop we hear everyday. Its not always pretty but its always interesting. If nothing else, it's Detroit hip hop, a city thats rich musical history has gotten lost in all the talks of bankruptcy and brown fields. This is not Big Sean's Detroit. This is Danny Brown's Detroit.

-j

[justinpascone-blog]

#10

Joey Bada$$ - Summer Knights 

With influences like Nas, Wu-Tang and Mobb Deep, Joey's musical tastes are rooted in a deep tradition of New York City boom-bap. With a silky smooth flow, hard hitting lyrics and production straight out of 1993, it is no surprise he has been dubbed the heir apparent to Nas -the new street poet of Flatbush, Brooklyn. Summer Knights showcases Joey at his most stoop-rapping, street corner-philosopher-esque. Standouts are 95 till Infinity, My Yout, Hilary $wank and Sit N' Prey. 

-j

[justinpascone-blog]

#11

Quasimoto - Yessir Whatever

The Other-other-other album release on June 18th. Madlib's alter ego Quasimoto unloaded his hard drive with Yessir Whatever. As a collection of over 20 years of work, the album surprisingly comes together as a collective whole. If I had a nice car and a cool place to drive, I'd play this record and fade away. I don't have a car, so I'll smoke heaters and throw bricks at windows while I listen to this album. Confused? Yeah, Lord Quas will do that. 

-j

[justinpascone-blog]

#12

Earl Sweatshirt - Doris

The debut album from the Odd Future freshman was everything you thought it would be, which is to say impressive. From being hyped as 'the best 16 year old rapper' to being shipped to Antarctica by his parents to his return to the states and popping up all in the Odd Future tapes, this album was a long time coming and for as much hype and anticipation it built, it lived up to it all. Earl's flow and lyricism drive the dark, melodic production.  All the tracks sound like a distorted carnival ride soundtrack and Earl's got his hand on the speed dial. His Odd Future bro's come and go throughout the haunted house of an album but Earl comes out on top. 

-j